Page 43 of Treasure of the Abyss

Had he everlaughed?

She was jarred from her thoughts by Jax’s sudden movement; he pulled himself forward and wrapped a tentacle around her ankle. Macy yelped as he tugged her leg straight, lifting it slightly off the ground, and leaned overit.

“Jax, what areyou—”

He lifted another tentacle and lightly ran its tip along hersole.

Macy’s leg jerked, and she widened hereyes.

The look of concentration on his face shifted into one ofamusement.

“Jax, don’tyou—”

Holding her leg fast, he brushed his tentacle over her foot a little more firmly, up and down, from heel to toe. Peals of laughter escaped her. She yanked her foot, but Jax wouldn’t relinquish it, wouldn’t cease his relentlesstickling.

“Jax! Stop!” she begged, thrashing on theground.

He stopped abruptly, though he didn’t release her leg. “Is tickling dangerous tohumans?”

Strands of hair hung in Macy’s face as she lay there, taking in great gulps of air. Her stomach ached from laughter. “Yes. And you just killedme.”

Leaning over her, he brushed her hair back. The mirth he’d worn a moment before had been replaced by deepconcern.

Macy met his gaze, trying to appear solemn, but she couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “I’m fine. I just…need a moment to recover. Tickling can get to be…toomuch.”

He frowned at her and straightened. Slowly, he ran his gaze down, over her body, settling it on her legs. Leaning back a little more, he tilted his head. His tentacle wound around her calf as it crept up her leg. A moment later, he settled a hand on her barethigh.

Macy’s breath hitched, and her heartfluttered.

His eyes met hers as he slid his palm up her leg with tantalizing slowness. His fingers kneaded her flesh “This does nottickle?”

Macy could only shake her head. All her focus was on that hand — on the warmth of his touch, the tiny pricks from his claws, and his firm, but gentle grip on her flesh. Heat pulsed in her belly and her sex clenched withneed.

Jax stilled his hand when it hit the hem of her dress. His tentacle brushed her inner thigh and halted, as well. “Your scent has changed. It is…sweeter.”

A different heat flooded her. Macy sat up and broke out of his grasp. Unable to meet his gaze, she scooted back, putting some distance between them, and tugged her dress down over herthighs.

How could something as innocent as tickling turn into…this? She’d been so mesmerized by his eyes, so enthralled by his touch, that she’d been tempted to part her thighs and allow him to explore herfully.

Was there somethingwrongwith her, to have spurned Camrin’s touch, but crave Jax’s? Even the thought of his tentacles caressing her made her shiver — not with repulsion, but withwant.

Jax didn’t pursue her. He eased down, his eyes never leaving her. He clenched and relaxed his jaw several times, as though he wanted to speak and didn’t know how to begin. Finally, he twisted his torso and fiddled with something behindhim.

Curious, Macy lifted her head andwatched.

When he turned toward her again, he held a black bundle in his hands. He took it in his tentacles and stretched them forward, placing the bundle on the ground beforeher.

“I think these are what you spoke of, Macy.” His tentacleswithdrew.

She crawled forward, sat on her heels, and peeled the wet fabric back. Once each side lay flat, Macy recognized the item — it was the same sort of suit she’d seen in the museum. A second suit was folded up inside, tucked between twomasks.

Macy’s excitement overcame her discomfort, and she flashed Jax a wide smile. “You foundtwosets?”

“I onlybroughttwo,” he said, “in case one does notwork.”

“That’s incredible!” She inspected the suits. They were in even better condition than the one from home, despite how old they had to be. “I can’t imagine what else might be downthere.”

“I could not tell you what most of itis.”

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